experience manager

service advisor

real estate associate

membership coordinator

general operative

Paignton-Zoo

The zoo as an attraction is a wonderful place to work - it is truly unique with the animals and gardens you can see around the site. The team are very helpful and supportive. Unfortunately as an organisation, it is a difficult place to adjust to. There is an overbearing focus on finishing on time, meaning a desperate rush to close down and be out by the time the zoo closes. As a result staff feel overworked, it is hard to manage appropriate cleaning, and as a supervisor lots of paperwork & admin had to be taken home to complete as no time in the day. The core team itself was absolutely fantastic, very welcoming and supportive, but a handful of individuals contributed to at times quite a toxic environment. Management appeared supportive but were under considerable pressure too and wouldn't hesitate to throw people under the bus when it suited them. Little job security for full-time staff as constant threat of redundancies or restructuring. Hours would be understandably reduced in the winter but this could be made up in the peak periods, and the zoo was mostly flexible around individual availability. Certainly within catering, positive changes were being attempted. As a part-time or seasonal job, it would be a fantastic place to work. However, there is just too much pressure placed on the supervisory team to get the job done to the required standard. 

I can not fault the zoo itself everyone works so hard the keepers, facilties, maintence but stay away from catering! 
I warn you now they have a thing for sacking if they feel they just don’t need you anymore no warning they have sacked over 5 management in the last few years for pathetic reasons mostly set up i feel sorry for people who come in as managers they employ good ones and then just sack them and leave the ones that have been their years who do nothing 
the job was okay but constantly being watched over never trusted with what you do even if you’ve done it for years 
all ideas are put down no one listens all they care about is temp sheets and cleaning sheets 
managers sit in offices all day!! and i mean all day just on computers and the people who do the least work (kitchen chefs that sit on a computer all day) moan that no one else is doing anything?!! 
manager is clueless when employing all fake and smiley then week in is rude and doesn’t actually have a clue what’s going on
the catering is a mess and really needs to sort itself out

Avoid.

Not the same zoo it was. Considerable decline across the board, nothing to do with covid or lock downs despite that excuse still being used. 

Handle any and every situation poorly, from communication, projects and staff choices. 

Animals and their welfare always seem to be an afterthought while keeper lunchtimes and prompt hometime seem to be the only daily concern! Wrong people at the helm as always with these situations, from top to bottom. Only department I remember trying their best seemed to be the cafe, not that they have the luxury of standing on their phone or chatting all day. 

Sad to see a zoo of such stature fall so low and on its current path I couldn't see it being an investment to a placement student at this point. If you want to work in zoos/gain some real experience- go anywhere else. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
The Team I work with and Supervise and the general working Environment knowing every aspect of my role hopefully will encourage the team and visitors to acheive their goals 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Ensuring exemplary customer service is acheived even during busy periods 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very good team aspect from all departments 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Meeting and greeting Giving start of day updates to staff on duty on the day dealing with and resolving situations both within the team and the customer demographic

It depends entirely on what department you work in to how your work life balance, stress level & advancement will work out.
Permanent positions don't come up often, seasonal roles are busy for a few months then hours will drop.
There is a lot of online training available. Seasonal staff need more knowledge of the whole site not just their department. 

Some friendly members of staff who are very supportive of one another. Good working opportunities if you’re liked in the workplace. A lot of negative staff, constant complaining (mostly of each other), feel like you’re walking on eggshells most of the time. Some days felt quite depressing because of the staff morale. I think only a few staff members are holding this place together. It’s a shame because the potential is there

What is the best part of working at the company?
staff and the job i do hoping to lead to a permanent position

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
nothing at moment finding things ok

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
very good and clean and tidy helpful friendly staff

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
cleaning tables sweeping floors keeping products topped up daily ..

At first it was fine, people seemed nice got promised loads of hours and then it just stopped. The work environment is overall not an enjoyable place to be. The management is horrendous and unfair, leave all the youngsters to do the work. They started cutting my hours for no reason and before you know it they god rid of me. It’s a shame because i was excited to work there. Made some nice friends, but i wouldn’t recommend.

Routine is always structured and there was something to do everyday, weather this was a new task or routine. Direction was always clear from management and help always given if needed. Plenty of opportunities for training and advancement, unfortunately I only worked for the season so there was only so much I could learn in short time.

The management don’t regard the staff as human beings, just numbers or pawns. 
Money is wasted left right and centre on ridiculous projects and contractors that don’t deliver what is asked for with no recourse. 
People making decisions about staff careers have no compassion or empathy when making those choices. 
Avoid like the plague! 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Experience manager 5 salaries reported	£22,596 per year
Service advisor 1 salary reported	£16,216 per year
Real estate associate 2 salaries reported	£20,427 per year
Membership coordinator 2 salaries reported	£14,702 per year
General operative 1 salary reported	£21,258 per year

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